Fins, what I wish I had known

[edasque]

My dive buddy Twain just posted a cool article on the subject:

Fins: what I wish I’d known | Thinking Diver (http://www.thinkingdiver.com/scuba-diving-fins/)

[Shaka Doug]

That's a cool article and it totally describes my take on Splits (I hate them). Now there's a new fin design out called MorFins. They are shaped like a Tuna and they work extremely well for me. Better than paddles and way better than splits. Give them a try! Mor-Fins! (http://www.mor-fin.com)

[deco_martini]

Its like someone took the average post of a paddle fin advocate on this board and made it an article.

[Nemrod]

Do they make split Force Mor-fns?

N

[Lord Melch]

Mor-Fins. True Hydrofoil techonolgy swim fins. What do you expect from your fins? Expect more from Mor-Fins. (http://www.mor-fin.com/) - Groovy looking fins, might have been tempted buy just got these :

http://www.apollosportsusa.com/images/products/miscellaneous/fins/2005testerschoice.jpg



The US NAVY is launching a submarine in 2009 that uses a tail fin for propulsion just like the tail fin found on Delfins.I wonder how many $$ that research cost :shakehead:

Breaking news.. "Fish are really quite good underwater" :amazed:

[FishOutUvH2O]

My dive buddy Twain just posted a cool article on the subject:

Fins: what I wish IÃÅ known | Thinking Diver (http://www.thinkingdiver.com/scuba-diving-fins/)
That blog is just another opinion piece by yet another individual that believes they've got "The Answer" that transcends any and all variables and can be applied to all divers at all times. The "Law of Fins", so to speak. This individual bases their conclusions on their limited experience using "one" set of split-fins and the inaccurate premise that all paddle fins are the same, as are all split-fins. This editorial is severely lacking in any depth and/or substance and most certainly doesn't add anything original or enlightening to the debate. The individual simply relies on the same generalizations and stereotypes about both types of fins that BB posters having been writing for years. While I applaud the blogger's effort and desire to enlighten the "newbies" to the SCUBA world, there are resources out there that are far better researched, thought-out, and substantiated than this one. Any piece that attempts to close the new diver's mind by giving them "The Answer", whether you premise your conclusion with "in my opinion", or not, does more harm than good to the new diver.

[deco_martini]

Breaking news.. "Fish are really quite good underwater" :amazed:

Fish are good underwater, however, tiny wings on the back of yours fins don't make you a fish. Look at how big a tuna's tail is compared to its body sometime. Then look at those little flaps hanging off the ends of morfins.

If morfins work well, it is not because "hydrofoils" channel the power of tuna.

[Lord Melch]

Fish are good underwater

Glad we agree then :D


however, tiny wings on the back of yours fins don't make you a fish.

Really ?? - damn ;)

[meesier42]

Fish are good underwater, however, tiny wings on the back of yours fins don't make you a fish. Look at how big a tuna's tail is compared to its body sometime. Then look at those little flaps hanging off the ends of morfins.

If morfins work well, it is not because "hydrofoils" channel the power of tuna.

fish create thrust with more than there tail fins as well, not to mention they have muscles to balance their thrust on both sides of their kick unlike the human body that can kick down with much more force than they can kick upwards

[AmyDelyla]

I'm still new to diving, but after about 40 dives with my splits, which I bought while doing my OW course, I wish I had picked out paddle style instead...Oh well.

[Wayward Son]

ebay is your friend. find ones you want to try, buy them relatively cheap & try them.

[djanni]

Paddles for the recreational diver... give me a break.

You know "Split Fins" are God's gift to the recreational scuba diver. He's not into the more techie stuff so he spends little time thinking in that sector.

Regarding the article, the author lost me at;

[from the opening ppg] ...but I'd rather blame it on a communications gap between the "technical" and recreational dive worlds.

Uh.. duh! Of course that's the problem.

[Nomadess 2012]

I don't really like those split fins myself, but the MorFins sound cool ... they LOOK really cool ... I've seen them more and more here on Maui. Shaka Divers uses them and I've seen them doing tours off Ulua Beach. They attract a lot of attention, and from what I've seen, the divers LOVE them ... they say they're really easy to kick, and they like them. I'm going to try them out for myself ... I'll keep you posted ...

[llqwyd]

split fins are great for many situations...but if you are in current or need to jet, you need something better. ebay is great, but i don't like the order-ship-buy-try-wash-rinse-repeat process. go to your lds and try a pair out first (a good lds will let you do this).

good luck!

[mongodives]

llqwyd, bingo, go to your LDS and try before you buy.
buy what suits you and your diving needs

[Lord Melch]

llqwyd, bingo, go to your LDS and try before you buy.
buy what suits you and your diving needs

+1

Don't buy something JUST on someone's opinion. Try it 1st :D..

Life would be a bit dull if we were all the same

[FishOutUvH2O]

http://www.scubapro.com/umbraco/ImageGen.aspx?image=/media/a108b1cf-94eb-4f0d-a228-8c79818b6f71-kinetix_fins_blue.png&width=300 http://www.scubapro.com/umbraco/ImageGen.aspx?image=/media/17e35c20-751f-4769-9da8-f8d195f6beea-jet_fins.png&width=300

Here's 2 different fins. Since they're both blade/paddle fins, they must work the same, right?



http://www.scubapro.com/umbraco/ImageGen.aspx?image=/media/ca4666bf-dda0-4f17-ad2f-e412cb59bebb-twin_jet_fins_adjustable_black.png&width=300http://www.scubapro.com/umbraco/ImageGen.aspx?image=/media/22511b32-8959-4e5b-a0f3-bacadcda251e-twin_jet_max_fins_blue.png&width=300
Here's 2 "split" fins, since they're both "splits", they must both work the same, right? Never mind the fact that the Twin Jet is made with a soft compound and is flexible and the Twin Jet Max is stiffer than a traditional Jet fin.

Point? Grouping fins into just 2 types; Blade/paddle and Split and then making claims about their physical characteristics or how they'll perform based on this grouping, is about as useful as a football bat. The fins above are made by the same manufacturer and some even have similar names, yet they're not even close to the same in materials or performance. Imagine the differences between manufacturers. The Twin Jet Max also pokes a giant hole in the theory that "splits" are all more flexible when compared to blade/paddle fins. So before you believe that blade/paddle fins are good for this, or that split fins are bad for that, go out and physically compare and try some fins. There's a ridiculous number and variation to choose from.

P.S. If the pics aren't showing-up, give them a second. They're are Scubapro fins and the pics are from the Scubapro site (which can be slow). If you don't want to wait. The fins pictured are the Kinetic, Jet, Twin Jet, and Twin Jet Max. Try googling them.

[Lord Melch]

Don't buy something JUST on someone's opinion. Try it 1st http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/04.gif..+1


go out and physically compare and try some fins. There's a ridiculous number and variation to choose fromerr +2 :kiss2:

Just the colours i.e. Black or coloured of Apollo Split fins makes a difference - apparently.

FINE TUNING While all bio-fins are 100% rubber, the hardness level does vary. Durometer ranges from original black 65 to the XT at 75

Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Split Fins: Overview (http://www.apollosportsusa.com/Products/Fins/Overview.htm#whichfin)

[Mayor]

What the OP is getting at is the latest and greatest is not always the best. Think simple and you will make out much better over the long run. All divers at any level should take a look at DIR gear choices and see how well tested they are. This is what made me switch to that style gear. You might not take all the suggestions but at least you will know why! I just wish someone told me to take a look long ago. My wife and I would have saved so much money.

As for the fins, my take is slow and steady while diving. The easiest way to move a lot of water is a good basic style fin that's stiff. Most tech style fit that discription plus are much cheeper then most other fins. I can tell you I work so much less with my OMS fins then with split fins. Just my two cents! :D

[FishOutUvH2O]

All divers at any level should take a look at DIR gear choices and see how well tested they are.
And here in lies the problem. Just because the average recreational diver buys DIR compliant gear doesn't make them a DIR diver. And it definitely doesn't mean that they are going to realize any benefit from using DIR compliant equipment. DIR is a lot more than gear and is directed toward challenging technical diving. Without the training and understanding of DIR, the gear is just gear. No better and no worse that a lot of other gear. I doubt that the average recreational or new diver, to whom this forum, and that blog post was directed toward, would see much of any benefit to buying gear simply because it's used by DIR divers. The average recreational diver isn't going to want to spend the extra time building up the leg strength needed to fully realize the potential of the Jet fin and probably isn't going to be, or shouldn't be diving in conditions where there's a need to have a fin that's able to produce a lot of thrust, but also requires a lot of length strength to get that thrust. Or a fin that is better at kick styles that the average recreational diver doesn't know and probably doesn't really need. At slower, more steady average recreational speeds, a lot of other fins, paddle, split, and "other", are far more efficient than the Jet or it's clones. It's best not to forget who the audience is and what their needs are when recommending equipment.

[tajkd]

Not to belabor the "Splits vs Anything Else" argument but, physically, none of the mechanics described in this article holds up. There are certainly vortexes created with solid fins and, in fact, they may extend downward to a greater degree than split fins. Stirring up silt is a matter of care not fins.
I have had both types and settled on splits because of a (perhaps perceived) ease of flutter kicking. I can do a frog kick, helicopter and backup using splits. You also can use the split design to flutter slowly at a relaxed speed. The bottom line is that the only thing that matters is your own opinion of the value of the type of fins. Your buddy's opinion only matters to help correct your technique. No style of fin is going to help that.

[Mayor]

And here in lies the problem. Just because the average recreational diver buys DIR compliant gear doesn't make them a DIR diver. And it definitely doesn't mean that they are going to realize any benefit from using DIR compliant equipment. DIR is a lot more than gear and is directed toward challenging technical diving. Without the training and understanding of DIR, the gear is just gear. No better and no worse that a lot of other gear. I doubt that the average recreational or new diver, to whom this forum, and that blog post was directed toward, would see much of any benefit to buying gear simply because it's used by DIR divers. .

I never said if they got DIR style gear they are now a DIR diver. Just wanted them to explore the concept as they review the gear choices. Why is this better then what I use now? What can I take from that concept and add to my diving to make me a better dive. That is the question most of us asked at one time or another.

As for the equipment helping. The wing is much easer to trim out the the jacket style. Yes the stiffer fins have a learning curve but in the long run will require less work. The long hose makes you a better buddy. Sorry for the somewhat off topic post. :D